Hearing loss decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his hearing loss to the Under Secretary for Benefits or to the Director of the Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration. The issue will be adjudicated on this basis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee, neck, and left shoulder conditions due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50% since November 9, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on whether dementia is a symptom or separate diagnosis related to PTSD and its impact on the need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran's SMC rate may be affected by this determination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, right lower extremity are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as zero percent disabling, and a compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis has been granted on a direct basis. The claims for service connection for immune dysfunction disability and multiple joint pain with arthralgia are remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 13, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was previously rated at 10 percent and is now restored to a 10 percent evaluation effective November 1, 2017. The case is remanded for further development regarding an increased rating.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as there are inconsistencies in the pre-service audiometric results.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as the weight of evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability was caused by in-service noise exposure.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss sufficient for VA purposes and that the evidence does not support a link between in-service noise exposure and any diagnosed condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, OSA, hemorrhoids, and PTSD are REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip condition and hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability is dismissed. The extension of a temporary total rating beyond October 1, 2018, based on a period of convalescence for service-connected back disability is denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete VA examination and lack of complete service personnel records. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA audiology examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.